The Pod Piper

I so wish I had figured out something special in honor of leap day. Instead, for better or worse, I continued my 99% Invisible listening quest as part of a forthcoming piece. Enjoy, and remember: leap day magic's all around when Leap Day William comes to town! THE LIST 1. 99% Invisible  - "Ten Thousand Years" How do you communicate with future generations about the dangers of a radioactive site? This episode gives some insight into a project that did exactly that, and the result is a mix of history, futurism, anthropology, design, culture, and everything. Very cool. 2. 99% Invisible  - "Reversal of Fortune" Early on in the city's history, Chicago reversed the direction of its river. That may or may not sound compelling, but this episode conveyed the frontier can-do spirit in an expanding urban setting in a way that is almost as enchanting as it is unbelievable. 3.  99% Invisible  - "Breaking the Bank" This one has a ver...

January felt like a real slog, and now February feels like it is just dashing by. I had a ton of listening time but couldn't seem to find the headspace to organize and rank and think through it all. Who knows if I've even accomplished that here and now, but at least it's something! THE LIST 1. 99% Invisible  - "Three Records from Sundown" Before this episode, I had a passing familiarity with Nick Drake. I knew he was a singer-songwriter with a devoted cult following, and that I thought his music was beautiful. Friends, there is so much more to him! This 99PI  guest feature from produced Charles Maynes is so elegantly mixed that the episode would be worth a listen even if the story or music was not good. But it is so, so good. I highly recommend pairing it with a walk on a chilly winter day, especially if there is snow falling outside. 2. Flash Forward  - "POWER: Mothers Against Digital Danger" Important and compelling, this episode is a...